Chapter Nineteen

"Miley, I'm going to kill you!" Demi shouted, soaking wet still as I came off stage, a towel wrapped around her. Her mascara and eyeliner were both terribly smeared and her hair was drenched as well. Somebody may have also filled up a bucket of water and poured it on her.

I couldn't stop laughing.

"Payback is amazing."

"You're so dead."

"Demi, ask the boys," I smirked a little as Nick came into hearing distance. "You don't want to mess with me, because my revenge is always better than anything you can come up with."

"She's right, you know?" Nick smiled, wrapping his arms around my waist as tingles shot through my body. I could've turned to mush. Demi saw and smiled as I bit my lip to hold mine back.

"Oh, God. Don't even give me your lecture, you won't even ask her out!"

"Demi," I hissed, glaring at her. Nick and I weren't ready for that conversation yet. That awkward conversation. The conversation that we had both been avoiding. It wasn't the right time, it never would be.

"Hey, guys," Joe joined us, wrapping an arm around Demi despite how she was still soaking wet from the water guns.

We all saw the smirk come onto Demi's face, though, as she pulled away and began to leave all of us as Joe looked at her hurt and I knew that face pretty well. He was genuinely confused. "What'd I do?"

"Maybe next time you'll think before you soak me onstage!" she threw behind her shoulder and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah, Joe. Maybe next time you'll think!" I chanted.

"You never think, either, shut up."

"Miley always thinks. You make her look like a genius," Kevin joined us and I laughed, sticking my tongue out at him.

"Told you."

Joe just glared at me, pointing his finger. "This is all your fault little miss 'oh, hey! Let's just pull a prank on Demi!'"

"Nothing is Miley's fault," Nick defended, pulling away but grabbing my hand now instead.

"You two back together again?" Kevin motioned between Nick and I.

I looked at him and he shyly smiled, letting go of my hand and bashfully shook his head. "Of course not."

"You two are the definition of young love. Fight for five minutes, love for twenty, then fight again," Joe rolled his eyes, a bit of envy leaking from his voice.

Nick shoved his brother a little and I instantly went in front of him so that he wouldn't start anything. He had a temper, he did, but it was just another flaw I loved.

"Yeah, Miley, you put him in place."

"Joseph," I warned. "Stop it now."

"Look at this," Kevin said, laughing and putting his arms around both me and Joe. "It's the four of us, all together again. The originals."

We all laughed and I held Nick's hand, smiling at him and he slowly smiled back. He loosened up and I knew the real Nick was back, not the one that got defensive every time someone made a comment about him, or even worse, us.

"I believe I'm actually the real original," I crossed my arms, testing them all. "I was here first."

"But then you met us and decided being an original was lonely with no one to share it with," Joe gave his cheeky smile and I let out a laugh.

"Man, I've missed you guys," I scanned all of their faces. "I'm so glad we're all friends again."

"Aw," Joe cooed, coming over and hugging me only for the rest to follow. I started laughing again as the three of them swayed me back forth, exactly the way things were a few years ago, all of us just so care-free.

And I knew it was the wrong thing to do, but I pretended not to see Selena staring at me jealously from the corner from eye.

:::

I sighed as I stepped back onto our buses after the show. Needless to say that I was in a good mood. Joe was with Demi and I scanned the room, frowning a bit.

"Where's Nick?"

"He has a business meeting tomorrow morning so he's flying out tonight," Joe told me.

Hm. I don't seem to recall him mentioning that.

"Okay."

He'd been spending more time on my bus than his bus and without him life honestly felt empty. It was incomplete and there was just this empty space. I wish he would've told me. I wanted to laugh at how pathetic I was being. I wouldn't last a day without him.

Or, you know, maybe I would, but it wasn't easy. Especially if he's mad. Then it was just hell. Oh, God, or when he's mad at somebody else. Then he has to act like he's right. But when he's happy – my favorite version, the one I liked to remember – he's the most amazing creature. People thought I made him smile with his teeth, but he made me smile period. Every single time, he just walks right into my life and reminds me how amazing it could be, and when he walks out it suddenly darkens.

I opened my bunk and rolled my eyes at the bouquet of flowers laying there. I already knew who they were from. Typical Nick. Not having time to tell me he wouldn't be here, but having time to plan out an extravagant apology. Not to mention that we weren't dating because he was too chicken to ask. Did Demi and Selena and Joe and Kevin and Dani get flowers too? Because apparently me and Nick were still only best friends meaning that I was on the same status as them.

"Most girls would be happy," Selena lectured me from her bunk. I rolled my eyes, yes I was being bitter. No, it wasn't any of her business. Sometimes I wish she would've just said yes so that I wouldn't have to hear her little comments like these.

That's the biggest lie I've ever seen.

"I know," I simply told her. Not rudely, just matter-of-factly. I wasn't most girls, I wasn't that easily swayed, I was Miley. And obviously it was working out for me because Nick didn't use me as a seat-filler. I knew that was mean and harsh, it was just so hard to get along with Selena recently. Maybe it's because she was jealous, or maybe it's because I'd been so angry at everything lately, but it just wasn't the same between us. It was hard to believe that we'd actually been close before this tour

Either way, Selena's comments didn't change anything. I was Miley, I wasn't persuaded with flowers not to be mad, and the fact that Nick thought he could get away with this just pissed me off.

:::

"Nick, dressing room!"

I turned around when I heard his name but he was already being pulled in twelve different directions. I sighed. Looks like I wouldn't be able to talk to him until after the show.

"Don't be mad at him, Mi," Demi plead from behind me. If she didn't want me mad then maybe he should've told me.

"I'm not."

She scoffed a little. "That's a joke and you know it. He didn't mean to make you angry."

She's right. Why pretend around her? "Too late. He fucked up."

"Remember how many times he's forgave you."

"That's Nick, he's too nice," I brushed it off. "I, however, am not. And I'm certainly not gonna let him walk all over me."

"Oh, we all know that," she muttered. "Cut him some slack for once."

We weren't getting anywhere with this conversation. I shook my head, walking away and into my own dressing room. I 'd had enough of this. I stayed in there, went out to perform, then went right back into the dressing room. It took about five minutes for Nick to walk in after me.

"You oka-"

"Where were you?"

"Business meeting."

"You could have told me you'd be gone all day."

"I completely forgot about it."

"Still, a text or something would've been nice."

"I'm sorry, but I was busy," he kept defending himself. Even if I was that busy I would've found the time to send a simple text. You know, maybe while he was planning sending the flowers.

"Fine, I get it."

"Are we seriously gonna fight over this?"

"I'm not fighting, I'm just saying that you could have texted me or something. You're the one that proposed, this is exactly why I turned you down. You aren't good with commitment, Nick."

"Okay," he scoffed. "Come find me when you realize how stupid you're being."

He walked away and I frowned a little. I called after him, my voice echoing off the walls. "I'm not being stupid!"

He didn't turn around, just kept walking. I was just saying the truth. I refused to apologize for that. No, he was the one who was being stupid, he can't take the truth!

Or I was being stupid. I closed my eyes, groaning and knowing that I had to go out there now if I expected him to forgive me. I took a deep breath, walking up to him and wrapping my arms around him this time. He didn't move and I knew what he was waiting for. He usually didn't make me, but this time he was.

"Really?" I groaned softly.

He didn't move. He was actually making quite a spectacle as he stood there with his straight face while talking to Demi and the dancers while I was wrapped around him. He was gonna make me do in, though. He wouldn't talk to me until I did.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

He turned kissing me on the cheek. "I know you are, Angel."

"And I shouldn't have brought up the proposal, I didn't mean it, I was just mad," I continued. "Forgive me?"

He laughed a little bit. "How could I not?"

I grinned, hugging him as everyone else secretly looked at us, trying to make it seem as if they weren't.

"Can I talk to you privately for a minute? Ask what I was gonna ask before you went off at me?"

He was gonna ask me something? Something other than if I was okay? I pulled away, nodding and he led us off back to my dressing room. He sat down on the couch, pulling me with him and held my hands tight, smiling a little bit.

"I know you turned me down a million times already and honestly I'm nervous right now because I think you will again, but I need to know something."

"Anything."

He stuttered before finally saying it as quickly as possible. "Will you go out with me?"

I smirked. "What was that Nick? Can you repeat it louder and slower?"

"Miley," he whined. "Please, if you're gonna reject me just do it now, this is taking all the courage in me."

I knew an instant smile appeared on my face. I went up, softly kissing him on the lips. Not deep, just a quick peck. "It took you long enough to ask."

"Well, I was so afraid – is that a yes?"

"Of course it is," I giggled, hugging him. "About time you got the balls to ask me."

"You really do have a talent for ruining every romantic moment, you know?"

"I've been told quite a few times."

"But I love you anyway, you know? No matter what."

I did know that. He's the only one I knew who meant it. He might stray off for awhile, and we both could lose our way for years, but in the end we'd always find our way back to each other. We loved each other unconditionally, and I didn't care if I was eighteen, I could never in my life love another guy like I love Nick. It just wasn't possible.

I snuggled up closer to him, just wanting to feel his body against mine. "I love you too."

Sorry for the long wait! It would've been up quicker but my computer decided to restart itself then it didn't save this document sooo i had nothing. forgive me:) ahah. sorry again. and to the person who reviewed and said i was the worst updater in the world, that seriously made me laugh. thank you. thanks for readingggg(: